Showcase

ABSTRACT

A showcase includes a frame unit and a lighting unit. The frame unit includes a rectangular housing with top and bottom plates, two side plates, a back plate, a front opening and a transparent window plate covering the front opening. The lighting unit includes a top lighting subunit connected to the top plate, a label plate holder disposed on the bottom plate, and a side lighting subunit disposed inside the label plate holder. The top lighting unit provides soft indirect lighting toward the bottom plate, and at least a portion of light emitted from the side lighting unit penetrates the label plate holder toward the back plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 02209257, filed on May 17, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a showcase, particularly to a showcase that provides light from different directions to display details of a displayed item disposed therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

With reference to FIG. 1, a conventional showcase 1 for casing and exhibiting a displayed item 13 (e.g., a 1:18 car model, a 1:12 motorbike model, etc.) has a base seat 11 and a transparent acrylic housing 12 to enclose the displayed item 13 and a label plate holder 14. The conventional showcase 1 displays the displayed item 13 and prevents damages thereto.

In a case that the displayed item 13 is crafted ever more delicate and realistic, another conventional showcase 2 (see FIG. 2), which provides light, is also available for improving the displaying effect of the displayed item 13. With reference to FIG. 2, the conventional showcase 2 has a rectangular casing 21 formed with an opening, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 22 embedded in a top wall of the casing 21 to emit light downwardly. However, the light emitted by the LEDs 22 is in a single direction.

In addition, when the displayed item 13 is a vehicle model, which is often coated with baking varnish paint, the light emitted from the LEDs 22 in the single direction tends to result in reflected bright spots on the displayed item 13, negatively affecting the overall aesthetic appearance of the displayed item 13.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a showcase providing light emitted from different directions so as to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a showcase including a frame unit and a lighting unit.

The frame unit includes a housing that has top and bottom plates, two side plates, a back plate, a front opening and a transparent window plate. The top and bottom plates are parallel to each other. One of the two side plates interconnects respective left edges of the top and bottom plates, and the other one of the two side plates interconnects respective right edges of the top and bottom plates. The back plate interconnects respective rear edges of the bottom, top and two side plates. The front opening is defined between respective front edges of the top, bottom and side plates. The transparent window plate detachably covers the front opening.

The lighting unit includes a top lighting subunit, a label plate holder and a side lighting subunit. The top lighting subunit is connected to the top plate. The label plate holder has a hollow transparent holder body disposed on the bottom plate, and a transparent label plate attached to the holder body. The side lighting subunit is disposed inside the label plate holder, and at least a portion of light emitted from the side lighting unit penetrates the holder body toward the back plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional showcase;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional showcase;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, partly-cut-away perspective view of the preferred embodiment a showcase according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of the showcase according to the present invention includes a frame unit 3 and a lighting unit 4.

The frame unit 3 includes a rectangular housing 31 having a front opening 311, a detachable transparent window plate 32 to cover the front opening 311 of the housing 31, and a plurality of magnetic fastening mechanisms 33 disposed between the housing 31 and the transparent window plate 32 for coupling removably the transparent window plate 32 with the housing 31.

The housing 31 further has a bottom plate 312, a top plate 313, two side plates 314 and a back plate 315. The bottom and top plates 312, 313 are parallel to each other, one of the side plates 314 interconnects respective right edges of the bottom and top plates 312, 313, and the other one of the side plates 314 interconnects respective left edges of the bottom and top plates 312, 313. However, the bottom, top and side plates 312, 313, 314 maybe formed as an integrated piece in other embodiments.

The front opening 311 is defined between respective front edges of the bottom, top and side plates 312, 313, 314. The transparent window plate 32 detachably covers the front opening 311. The back plate 315 is opposite to the transparent window plate 32, and interconnects respective rear edges of the bottom, top and side plates 312, 313, 314. The back plate 315 may be fixed or detachable, depending on different requirements. For example, a scene or trade mark picture is often used as a background while displaying a displayed item (for example, a car model 5) in the showcase, and therefore, it is easier to replace the background when the back plate 315 is detachable.

The top plate 313 of the housing 31 has a bottom surface formed with a plurality of lighting-unit grooves 34 that are spaced apart from each other, and the housing 31 further has an inner surface 310 formed with a cable groove 35 and a cavity 38 in spatial communication with the cable groove 35. The frame unit 3 further includes a cover plate 36 for covering the cavity 38 in a manner that the cover plate 36 is flush with the inner surface 310 of the housing 31, and a decorative layer 37 to cover the cable groove 35, the cover plate 36 and the inner surface 310.

The lighting unit 4 includes a top lighting subunit 41 connected to the top plate 313, a label plate holder 42 disposed on the bottom plate 312, a side lighting subunit 43 disposed inside the label plate holder 42, a switch 44 disposed externally on the housing 31, and a control unit 45 that is embedded in the cavity 38 of the housing 31 and that controls the top lighting subunit 41 and the side lighting subunit 43. In particular, the control unit 45 is operable to control an on/off operation of each of the top and side lighting subunits 41, 43 to switch on or off the corresponding one of the top and side lighting subunits 41, 43, and/or a light-controlling operation to control color, brightness and/or color temperature of light emitted by each of the top and side lighting subunits 41, 43 when the same is switched on.

The top lighting subunit 41 includes a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) bars 413, and a plurality of light holders 411 that respectively engage the lighting-unit grooves 34 and that are respectively mounted with the LED bars 413 for orienting light emitted from the LED bars 413 so as to provide indirect lighting toward the bottom plate 312. The top lighting subunit 41 further includes a plurality of reflective members 412 respectively disposed in the lighting-unit grooves 34 for reflecting the light emitted from the LED bars 413, and a plurality of diffusion filters 414 respectively covering the lighting-unit grooves 34. The light holders 411 are made of aluminum to reduce weight and improve heat dissipation. The diffusion filters 414, together with the indirect lighting from the LED bars 413, provide even and soft lighting and avoid reflected bright spots on the car model 5.

The label plate holder 42 has a hollow transparent holder body 421 disposed on the bottom plate 312 and mounted with the side lighting subunit 43 therein, a transparent label plate 422 attached to the holder body 421, and a connecting member 423 embedded in the holder body 421 and electrically connecting the side lighting subunit 43 to the control unit 45 through a cable 351 disposed in the cable groove 35.

At least a portion of the light emitted from the side lighting subunit 43 penetrates the holder body 421 toward the back plate 315, providing a secondary lighting in a different angle to show more details of the displayed car model 5 and increasing variety in displaying the car model 5.

In this embodiment, the label plate holder 42 is detachable. The connecting member 423 is configured to have magnetism, and is disposed on and protrudes from a bottom surface of the holder body 421, such that the label plate holder 42 may be firmly attached to the bottom plate 312 of the housing 31 which is made of metal. Alternatively, the connecting member 423 may be an electrical conductor, and the label plate holder 42 may further have additional pins or other means for fastening the label plate holder 42 to the bottom plate 312.

In conclusion, the top lighting subunit 41 provides a soft and even lighting to avoid reflected bright spots on the displayed item, and the side lighting subunit 43 is disposed inside the label plate holder 42 and provides lighting in a side angle whereas the label plate holder 14 of the conventional showcase 1 show in FIG. 1 is only used for holding a label plate. Therefore, the showcase according to the present invention provides light with relatively more variety, and is able to display more details of the displayed item. In addition, the transparent label plate 422 allows the light emitted from the side lighting subunit 43 to transmit therethrough for a relatively better visual appeal of the transparent label plate 422 and an enhanced overall displaying effect of the showcase. Moreover, by virtue of the lighting-unit grooves 34 and the cable groove 35, the lighting unit 4 is embedded in the housing 31 and thereby is hidden from view. Since the cover plate 36 covers the cavity 38 and the decorative layer 37 covers the cable groove 35, the covering plate 36 and the inner surface 310 of the housing 31, an overall appearance inside the housing 31 may be a smooth, un-segmented surface.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A showcase comprising: a frame unit including a housing that has top and bottom plates parallel to each other, two side plates, one of said side plates interconnecting respective left edges of said top and bottom plates, and the other one of said side plates interconnecting respective right edges of said top and bottom plates, a back plate interconnecting respective rear edges of said top, bottom and side plates, and a front opening defined between respective front edges of said top, bottom and side plates, and a transparent window plate that detachably covers said front opening; and a lighting unit including a top lighting subunit that is connected to said top plate, a label plate holder that has a hollow transparent holder body disposed on said bottom plate, and a transparent label plate attached to said holder body, and a side lighting subunit that is disposed inside said label plate holder; wherein at least a portion of light emitted from said side lighting subunit penetrates said holder body toward said back plate.
 2. The showcase of claim 1, wherein said lighting unit further includes a control unit embedded in said housing and controlling one of an on/off operation of each of said top and side lighting subunits to switch on or off the corresponding one of said top and side lighting subunits, and a light-controlling operation to control one of color, brightness and color temperature of the light emitted by each of said top and side lighting subunits when the corresponding one of said top and side lighting subunits is switched on.
 3. The showcase of claim 2, wherein said label plate holder further includes a connecting member embedded in said holder body and electrically connecting said side lighting subunit to said control unit.
 4. The showcase of claim 1, wherein said top plate of said housing has a bottom surface formed with a plurality of lighting-unit grooves spaced apart from each other, and said top lighting subunit includes a plurality of LED bars, and a plurality of light holders that respectively engage said lighting-unit grooves and that are respectively mounted with said LED bars for orienting light emitted from said LED bars so as to provide indirect lighting toward said bottom plate.
 5. The showcase of claim 4, wherein said top lighting subunit of said lighting unit further includes a plurality of reflective members respectively disposed in said lighting-unit grooves for reflecting the light emitted from said LED bars, and a plurality of diffusion filters respectively covering said lighting-unit grooves.
 6. The showcase of claim 1, wherein said frame unit further includes a plurality of magnetic fastening mechanisms disposed between said housing and said transparent window plate for coupling removably said transparent window plate with said housing. 